(KWWL) Staff Sergeant James Frey and his wife Courtney waited patiently for their son Brandin to make his way to the Army Aviation Support Facility in Waterloo, Iowa Wednesday.

All of Brandin’s life he’s wanted to join the military and fly a black hawk helicopter like his dad.

“From when he was about five years old I guess he started asking me, ‘When do I get to fly on this?’ and I said ‘Well son as soon as you sign on the dotted line you can go on a ride in these,'” said James Frey.

That’s exactly what Brandin did. After he turned 17, Brandin joined the Iowa Army National Guard.

“He came home and said ‘ok I want my ride now,” said Frey.

So for his 18th birthday, Brandin’s parents set him up to fly with the Iowa National Guard, but this was more than a helicopter ride.